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Written By: Admin | Updated : April 11, 2012 9:38 AM IST
The government is finally set take down the John Terry pictures from every cigarette packet.
Every packet of cigarette sold in India has the picture of bare-chested man with X-ray shots of his lungs with the words 'Smoking kills' emblazoned underneath. Strangely the man is a dead ringer for Chelsea captain and former England football captain John Terry who was recently stripped off the captaincy amid claims of racist behaviour.
Now John Terry is a cult figure around world thanks to the popularity and reach of English football. Why the powers-that-be didn't pick a more anonymous figure is unclear. Anyway the picture is set to change after tobacco giants, Godfrey Philips the manufacturers of Marlboro, Four Square and Red and White have written to the Govt to warn it of a potential lawsuit from the footballer.
Government sources though still adamant that Mr Terry is not featured on the pack, say that the Govt has decided to change the picture as a cautionary measure. Seven drawings have been submitted to the Health Ministry for review, and one of these will be used in future for cigarette packs. This new image will be introduced once the existing stock of cigarettes in the market is used up; there is no attempt for now to withdraw packs already in the market.
In 2009, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for tobacco companies to have pictorial warnings on cigarette packs. The 'John Terry' image currently in use was chosen by the Directorate of Visual Publicity and sent across to tobacco companies for printing on the packs.
